Twenty projects in 17 Michigan cities to get Cool Cities grants
LANSING -- Twenty projects in 17 cities aimed at developing vibrant, attractive downtowns and urban areas will get $100,000 each in state grants and have access to $100 million in other development resources.
The grants were announced Wednesday by Gov. Jennifer Granholm as part of her Cool Cities initiative. The governor made the announcement during a morning news conference at Detroit's Eastern Market and was scheduled to hold an afternoon news conference at the Urban Institute of Contemporary Art in Grand Rapids.
The 20 projects that are getting $100,000 catalyst grants under Gov. Jennifer Granholm's Cool Cities initiative:
-Alpena: The grant will be used to develop a pedestrian-oriented walkway through downtown on both sides of the river, providing non-motorized linkage between the downtown and public and private development projects occurring along the river.
-Bay City: The project is Waterfall Park, to be located at the end of Third Street and extending to the first bridge to cross the Saginaw River.
-Detroit: The Greater Downtown Partnership proposes to renovate Shed No. 2 which will allow an additional 50 vendors to conduct business. In addition, the project establishes the Eastern Market neighborhood as a link to the riverfront and downtown.
-Detroit: The Jefferson East Business Association proposes to redevelop three dilapidated buildings into Entertainment and Technology Incubators. They will contain 28 residential loft apartments, a TV production studio and a number of retail and food service establishments.
-Detroit: The Southwest Detroit Business Association proposes the renovation of the Odd Fellows Hall located in the heart of the Springwells neighborhood. It will become a key anchor in the multicultural area.
-Ferndale: The Ferndale Downtown Development Authority would use the catalyst grant to expand the BUILD Program, which offers a 20 percent reimbursement for exterior building improvements to properties within the downtown area. Additional Cool Cities funding would enable up to five properties to be added to the program.
-Flint: The grant will be used to restore the exterior of the Republic Bank Building which will become First Street Lofts, a 16-unit loft development downtown.
-Grand Rapids: The Avenue for the Arts Project includes the historic renovation of seven buildings, streetscape improvements along with the creation of public art, murals and the development of 35 loft apartments.
-Grand Rapids: The Uptown Revitalization Project contains a new retail development utilizing green technology that is compatible with historic district standards, a faEcade improvement program for historic commercial structures and a wayfinding design program to increase the walkability of the Uptown area.
-Jackson: The Jackson Armory Arts Project will include the redevelopment of an abandoned industrial site into a center for the arts and culture, including 39 loft apartments.
-Kalamazoo: The city will use the grant monies to move Smartshop, a unique metalworking school, gallery, and sculpture garden to a new location on the city's north side.
-Marquette: The Marquette Commons Project will consist of a groomed, refrigerated ice plaza with a skating rink, warming house, a non-motorized trail and a fountain located near the heart of the city on the site of an old parking lot and elevated railroad trestle.
-Port Huron: The catalyst project is conversion of the Relic Building into an Art Incubator for artists. The neighborhood is a vibrant, traditional downtown neighborhood offering diverse arts and culture.
-Portland: The catalyst project is a boardwalk that will connect the pedestrian bridge over the confluence of the Grand and Looking rivers. The boardwalk will run along the back of the commercial buildings on the 100 block of Kent Street. The grant will leverage additional funding for the development of lofts in the buildings.
-Saginaw: The catalyst grant will be used to redevelop two currently vacant buildings into first-floor commercial and second-floor residential uses. The two buildings are the former Aubry Cleaners building and the Federal Building.
-Saugatuck: The project involves the renovation of the old Pie Factory into the Saugatuck Center for the Arts and the enhancement of the adjacent city parking area, including streetscape improvements on Mason Street and Culver Street.
-Sault Ste. Marie: The project proposes to restore and renovate the classic and historic Soo Theatre Complex to its original grandeur of the 1930's. The project is part of the downtown revitalization and will provide economic development and other economic benefits.
-Traverse City: The project will establish an Entrepreneurial Institute to help instill an independent entrepreneurial culture into the Grand Traverse community.
-Warren: The City Square Project is a 2-acre urban park that will contain a multipurpose improvement that is a fountain in the warmer months and an ice rink in the winter. The City Square will be bounded by the new City Hall/Library, high-density residential and commercial retail, and a childcare center.
-Ypsilanti: Plans include facility improvements to the Riverside Arts Center and to partner with DTE to expand the project. The project will involve the reutilization of a vacant office structure for retail gallery, studio, office and theater set construction and other Arts Center uses in Ypsilanti's downtown historic neighborhood.
